Newspaper vending machine



Aug. 21, 1945;

D. D. CAMERON v 2,382,959 NEWSPAPER VENDI NG MACHINE I Filed Nov. 2, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Dan/cl D. Cameron Allg- 1945- D. DQCAMERON 2,382,959

NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2, 1942 2 Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTOR. Dan/c/ D. Cameron previously referred to.

jacent the forward edge of the bottom member l1, and includes as here shown a channel strip 39 and a plurality of transversely spaced fingers or detents 4| fixed in the strip and projecting upwardly therefrom. The fingers are arranged to move vertically-and fore and aft through the bottom member H, the stop 23, and the apron 28,

and in view thereof such parts are formed with slots 42 in which the fingers may engage and move. As will be clear from Figure 4, the part 33 may be moved rearwardly to occupy a position.

underlying the portion of the bottom |l. normally occupied by the foremost paper thereon when abutting the stop 23. gers are moved directly upwardly through the slots, the fingers will engage the folded edge of said paper and elevate the paper accordingly. As a means of insuring the retention of the paper on the fingers, the latter are provided on the top thereof with sharp prongs 43 which serve to bite into the paper and prevent its displacement on the fingers while engaged therewith. In addition to the prongs, there is also provided in connection with the fingers, guards 44 which are disposed at the front side of the fingers and extend upwardly so as to engage the fore side of the paper and positively prevent therelease of the paper from the movable member except as effected by the proper functioning of the parts.

As will be clear from Figure 1, the member 3| is arranged to be elevated high enough to cause the lower edge of the elevated paper to clear the stop 23. With the paper thus held, the member may be moved forwardly so as to position the lower end of the paper directly over the apron 28 at the bottom of the delivery opening as indicated in Figure 2. It will now be evident that with the paper thus positioned over the apron, a downward movement, of ,thejmember 3| so as to retract the fingers and guards below the apron as illustrated in Figure 3, will serveto disengage the paper completely from the portion 33 and leave the paper deposited on the apron where due to the slope of the latter, the paper will descendout through the delivery openingto the operator.

As a means of insuring the descent of the paper upon the apron with the downward movement of member 3|, the upper edge of the top piece of member 3| is bent over to form a hook 45 which is designed to more or less engage the upper edge of the paper when the latter is operatively held in the member 3| as shownin Figure 1. Attention may also be directed to the fact that when the paper is deposited on the apron, it will be practically vertically disposed and thus spaced for the most part from the adjacent paper which is retained by the stop 23 in the tilted position Preferably the apron 28 is formed with, an extension 46 which is curved in a mannerto retard as desired'the speed at which the paper is discharged. ,After retraction of portion 33 and disengagement of the paper therefrom, the former maybe repositioned below the bottom member 1| "(for engaging and elevating the succeeding foremost paper advanced against thestop 23. M

Means are provided for guiding and moving the member 3| through the various positionsabove described. As a means of thus guiding the member, there is provided in the casing at eachend of the portion 33, What may betermed adoublefaced cam 41 preferably secured to the end walls of the casing and each provided with opposing inner and outer camfaces which define a generally diamond-shaped course or guideway. Each In this way when the fin- 'a' shaft 53.

guideway is engaged by a pin 48 which is fixed to and extends from the ends of portion 33. In the present form of the invention the outer face of the cam is formed by the sides of an opening 49 in' astationary plate 5|, while the inner face is formed by the edges of a plate 52'positioned within the opening and mounted to rock about spaced vertical sections 54 and 56 and upper and lower inclined sections 51 and 58, and as will be clear from the drawings, the plates are by means of a coil spring 50 spring-pressed so as to urge the portions thereof at the juncture of sections 54 and 58 and at the juncture of the sections 56 and 51 toward the opposing portions of the outer cam face and thereby close the guideway at such portions against reverse movement of the pin 48 therein. The pins are positioned in such relation on the member 3| that when the pins are entered in the sections 56, and moved upward therethrough, the fingers will elevate the foremost paper to clear the stop 23, and as the pins are successively advanced through the sections 51, 54 and 58, the fingers will convey the bottom of the paper over the stop and upon the apron 28, thence withdraw under the apron and thereby release the paper for discharge through the delivery opening, and then return under the member H for elevating the succeeding foremost'paper thereon.

Means for actuating the member 3| to advance the pins through the guideway, is here shown in the form of a crank mechanism which is accessible for operation from the exterior of the casing, such mechanism including a shaft 3| con veniently mounted under the member I! and having fixed thereto for rotation therewith a crank arm 62 which is connected by means of a pivot 63 to a lateral extension 64 of the member 3|. The crank is designed to elevate and depress the member BI and in order that the latter may have a certain amount of transverse movement relative to the crank as required when the pin 48 moves through the cam portions 51 and 58, the pin 63 is mounted in a slot 66 in the extension 64. A lever 61 aflixed to a portion of the shaft 6| protruding exteriorly of the casing, provides a means for use by the operator for actuating the crank mechanism.

By means of a spring 68 connected between the crank arm 62 and the casing wall, the crank is normally retained in a position in which the foremost paper is held elevated by the member 3| above the stop 23. This is an important feature of the invention, since in this manner, when the operator initiates the operation to obtain a paper, the removal of the paper from on the member H, and the elevation thereof to clear the stop 23 has already been effected at the previous 'vendonce the pin advances thereby. In this way, there will be no danger of the operator reversing the operation of the mechanism and causing the paper to be mutiliated or jammed between and cause damage to the parts. In furtherance of this object, there is also provided on the plate 52 at the side facing the cam-way section 54, a projection 69 which over which the pin 48 passes just as the paper becomes released from the fingers and guards on the portion 33 of member 3|. Due to the presence of the projection 69 Each guideway is provided with fixed-means at; the :1 forward :edge of rsaicl bottom.

member :pr'ovidingua zstopaforrthe;foremostxnewss paper upon: said. bottom memberrwanchpositioned to rprovide-aasuriport for:saidneiwspapetzwhenade vanced upwardily"forwardly of said-stop; sarl'droa's me having rat the forwardwedge ofrsaidmeansua: horizontal newspaper delivery slot;..a closure member across said slot, a; vertically; and? horiezontally movable; ejector: means? engages-plea with the bottom; of 1 the? foremost newspaper" om said bottom memben; andxmeansoperative to-- guide saidejector meansas; it moves upwardly tore- 1ease-the newspaper: front the stop'thentforw wardly to advance: the newspaper; then down:

wandly top deposit; the newspaper on the-.1 fixed means; and thennrearwardly; and upwardly;

2.: I n. a newspaper vending: machineraj casing;

having: front and: side wallsand a, forwardlyiand downwardly, sloping bottom. member adaptedwto support a plurality of folded newspapers, in. vertical position with ther folded; edge lowermost;

meansacross the-forwar edge of saidlbottorn member.- providing astop; for the- .foremost: news.- paper On said member, said fcasingIh-avin at the front of, said. stop means a newspaper, delivery opening, ejector meansrmovable-upwardlm and thence forwardly to.engagethe-bottomzotatheforea mostnewsp aper. on said member and; release same for movement. to said delivery opening; and thence downwardly and rearwardly: andupwardly toretumzto .ppsitionior eneasingrthe succeeding foremost newspaper, on. {said member, and v means.

operable. for. the exterior? of-- the casins (for; ac

tuating saidejectonmeans. i i

3. In anewspaner vending maolune,..a..oasins having frontand.sideewallsandiaforwardlyand T downwardly sloping bottom member. adapted to support a, plurality or folded 1. newspapersin ver: tical position, with, thefolded edge lowermost, means acrossfthej forward edge of. said bottom member providing a. stop for. the foremost news,

paper, onv said memberjsaid casing having. at the front of. said, stop. means. a. newspaper. delivery opening, vertically and forwardly, movable: means engageable with andarranged to hold thelbottom of theforemost newspaper, .means.operable,.-from the exterior of they casing, fortaotuating; said en.-

' gaging means, movementoontrol Imeansjorsaid engaging means operative. on operationof. said actuating means, to guide said r. engaging, means from a retracted position belowsaidbottommemw ber upwardly into holding, engagiementwith said foremost papers to elevate, thepaper above, the stop, thence forwardly, to ,r convey. said paper for.- wardly of said stop and; to. said delivery opening, and thence downwardly.rearwardlyandupwardly to return to said retracted position and means operative to releasethe newspaper. frOmeH aEBr ment with said engaging means as. the newspaper i conveyed tothe delivery opening, i

4;I'na news having front'anclside Walls and a forwardly and downwardly sloping, bottom member adaptedto supportja plurality of folded newspapers in vertical position with the folded edge lowermost, means across the forward edge of said bottom ,aper vendin machine, a]. casing 3 member; providing a -stopfon'the. foremostinewspaper, on said-member,- said-zcasing; liaving atrthe front: of said 1 stop. means waflnewspaper: delivery opening; a. discharge; aproni adjacent ilthevlower edge wof said: delivery opening;

.an upwardlywand' forwardly. movable means arranged to engage and hold againsttransverse displacement-thereon the.- bottom of 'therforemost; paper :elevatedahove serving to effectedise figement oithepapenfrom the" engaging thereon.

meansafter deposit 1 of the A paper a 5..-. In .a, newspaper: vending. -ma;chine q a casingaving= frontand; side. walls and a. downwardlyand forwardly sloping bottom member adapted to support a plurality of folded newspapers in vertical position with the folded edge lowermost; means at the forwardvedge ofrsaid bottommember providinga sto for the foremost paper on said membensaid casing having: at 1 the iron-to i said stop means a newspaper delivery opening, a transversely extending member, mounted for movement vertically. andv fore and-aft in said casing and arrangedfor;positioningaddacent the.

forward I edge. of. said bottom member; means on saidmovable member-adapted for. engaging and holdin thereto the. bottomtedgeot the papers, spring. pressed. guide. members. and cooperating engaging. means. adjacent said- ,side. wallsland on said? movable. member respectively for controlling the movementjof, the. latter in. the directions aforesaid and to thereby; convey. the foremost paper on said bottom. member over. saidstop. and toward said. opening, and. thencereturn for peatinsjoperatiom and. means accessible from the exterior offthe casing for actuating said movable member. i i

V 6.,In a newspapervendingmachine, a casing front and. side walls .and a downwardly having andfforwardly sloping bottom member adapted to support aplu rality of'folded newspapers in thelfoldededgelowermost, means at the forward edge of saidbottorn member providing a stop for the foremost paper on said member, said casing having at ;the frontbf said stop'means a newspaper delivery opening,

vertical position. with a transverselyextending member mounted for movementvertically andyfore and aft in said oasing, and arranged for positioning adjacent the forwardjedge of saidbottom member, meanslon said movable member for engaging and holding the bottom edge of individual newspapers, c015.

responding cams positioned in the casing; at the opposite ends ofsaid; movable member and defi ne e e l y diam nd-shap gu d -ways.

eans accessible from theexterior of said casing foraptuating said movable member, and means on .said'movable member jengagingin the guidew'ays ofsaickcams whereby. upon actuation of saidmovable member the latter will convey the' foremost newspaper onsaid.bottom memberover 'saidstop' means and toward said delivery" opening and thence back for engagement with the next foremost paper on said member. s

'7. In a'newspaper vending machine,a casing having front and side walls and a downwardly and forwardly sloping bottom member adapted to support a plurality of folded newspapers in vertical position with the folded edge lowermost, means at the forward edge of said bottom member providing'a' stop for the foremost paper on said member, said casing having at the front of said stop means a newspaper delivery opening, atransversely extending member mounted for movement'vertically and fore and aft in said casing and arranged for positioning adjacent the forward edge of said bottom member, means on said movable member for engaging and holding the bottom edge of individual newspapers, double-faced cams positioned in the casing at the opposite ends of said movable member, means accessible from the exterior of the casing for actuating said movable member, and means on said movable member engaging between the faces of the cams whereby upon actuation of said movable member the latter will engage and convey the foremost newspaper from said'bottom member toward said Idelivery opening and thence return to' position for engagement with the succeeding foremost paper, said cams having at least portions of theinner faces spring-pressed to form means to prevent reverse movement of said cam engaging means between the faces.

8. Ina newspaper vending machine, a casing having'front and side walls and a downwardly and forwardly sloping bottom member adapted to support a plurality of folded newspapers in vertical position with the folded edge lowermost, means at the forward edge of said bottom member providing a stop for the foremost paper on said member, said casing, having at the front of said stop means a newspaper delivery opening, a' transversely extending member mounted for movement vertically and fore and aft in said.

casing and arranged for positioning adjacent the forward edge of said bottom member, means on said movable member formed and arranged for positioning to engage and hold the bottom of the foremost newspaper above and forward of said bottom member, double faced generally diamond-shaped cams positioned in the casing at the opposite ends of said movable member and arranged with two of the sides substantially vertical and the other two sides sloping downwardly and forwardly, means on said movable member engaging between the faces of the cams and normally positioned adjacent the juncture of the upper and rear sides of the cams, the relationship of said cam engaging means and the paper engaging means on the movable member being such that when the cam engaging means is in the normal position aforesaid or advanced to the forward end of said top side or at the lower end of the front side or at the rear end of the lower side, the paper engaging means will be in said normal position or adjacent said delivery opening or below said opening or at a position below said bottom member preparatory to engaging the next foremost paper respectively, and means accessible from the exterior of the casing for moving said movable member to advance said cam engaging means through all of said positions.

9. In a newspaper vending machine, a casing having front and side walls and a downwardly and forwardly sloping bottom member adapted to support a plurality of folded newspapers in vertical position with the folded edge lowermost, means at the forward edge of said bottom member providing a stop for the foremost paper on said member, said front wall having an opening arranged to display said paper, said casing having at the front of said stop meansv a newspaper delivery opening, a discharge apron at the bottom of said opening, a movable frame member having a transversely extending portion arranged for positioning adjacent the forward edge ofsaid bottom member and having upwardly extending arms at the ends pivotally and slidably secured to the casing whereby said transverse portion may be movedvertically and fore and aft relatively to said bottom member, means on said movable member formed andarranged for positioning to engage and hold the bottom of the foremost newspaper above'and forwardly of said bottom member, double faced generally diamond-shaped cams positioned in the casing at the opposite ends of said movable member and arranged with two of the sides substantially vertical and the other two sides sloping downwardly and forwardly, means on said movable member engaging between the faces of the cams and normally positioned adjacent the juncture of the upper and rear sides of the earns, the relationship of said cam engaging means and the paper engaging means on the movable member being such that when the cam engaging means is in the normal position aforesaid or advanced to the forward end of said top side or at the lower end of the front side or adjacent the rear end of the lower side, the paper engaging means will be in said normal position or at said delivery opening below said opening or at a position below said bottom member preparatory to engaging the next foremost paper respectively, and means accessible from the exterior of the casing for moving said movable member to advance said cam engaging means through all of said positions, said cams being formed to prevent reverse movement of the cam engagingmeans therein when advanced to predetermined points.

10. In a newspaper vending machine, a casing having front and sidewalls and a downwardly and forwardly sloping bottom member adapted to support a plurality of folded newspapers in vertical position with the folded edge lowermost, means at the forward edge of the bottom member providing a stop for the foremost paper on said member, said casing having a paper delivery opening in front of said stop means, a paper discharge apron at the bottom of said delivery opening, said member and stop and apron having communicating slots, a movable paper engaging member arranged for positioning between said apron and bottom member and mounted at the ends thereof for vertical and fore and aft movement through said slots, means controlling the movement of said paper engaging member whereby the same will be caused to move through said slots and. successively elevate the foremost paper to clear said stop, thence convey the paper toward the bottom of said delivery opening and apron, and thence release said paper and return back for elevating the next foremost paper on said bottom member, and means accessible from the exterior of the receptacle for moving said paper engaging member through said positions.

DANIEL :o. CAMERON. 

